Disciplined Lions defense will test resurgent Packers red zone attack

Jordan Love and the offense have finally found success in the red zone, but the Lions bring one of the best red zone units in the NFL into Thursday night's showdown.

There is nothing particularly special about what the Detroit Lions do in the red zone. Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn mixes coverages, plays more man than most other coaches, disguises well, and instills discipline in this back seven no matter who is out there. That’s true everywhere on the field, not just in the red zone. It’s the same reason I had been insisting the Green Bay Packers red zone struggles would even out: they were too good an offensive team to struggle in any area for long.

The Lions boast one of the best defenses in the NFL, 2nd in total DVOA and 1st against the pass. Of course, they’re good in the red zone. In fact, it’s difficult to find a split in which they’re not among the best in the league. I looked.

That patience has paid off the last two weeks for the Packers offense after a 5/5 scoring performance against the San Francisco 49ers and a 3/5 showing against the Dolphins. Coincidentally, the previoius Lions game shows why this was bound to happen and offers a roadmap to find success against the Lions’ stingy red zone defense on Thursday night.

On the game's first drive, the Packers moved the ball easily down the field into scoring position, but after two runs set up a 3rd-and-5, the drive stalled.

The Lions didn’t react to the Packers motioning into a 3-by-1 set, a key that they’re likely playing zone coverage. Not only was that a feint by Glenn, but a zero-blitz look created quick pressure off the edge.

Love saw it quickly though, and got to the only open man in the play, Chris Brooks. The ball flew in behind Brooks who was unable to squeeze it and the drive ends.

Watching Love on this play as opposed to the last few weeks shows a distinct difference in his willingness to either hang in and throw in a muddy pocket or buy time against pressure.

It’s one of the reasons I’ve screamed for weeks the biggest driving factor in Love’s interception streak earlier this season was his health. If he hangs in the pocket half a beat longer and sticks his back foot in the ground to deliver a strike rather than falling away from pressure, this play can work.

We’ve already seen a marked difference in Love’s willingness to make what Matt LaFleur calls “no-blink” throws with a collapsing pocket since the bye week. His rolling third-down throw to Jayden Reed serves as a reminder of what he’s capable of doing escaping pressure as well.

During his play, he does neither, undoubtedly affected by the stability in his lower half.